Inner tube testing means



March 5, 1940. A. E. LooKHoLDr-:R Y 2,192,232 I INNER TUBE TESTING MEANS l Filed June 10. 1938 Patented Mar. 5, 19740 UNITED STATES yPATENT OFFICE INNER TUBE TESTING `MEANS* Alex E. Lookholder, La Grange, Ill. Application June .-10, 193s, serial No. 213,006

4 claims. (o1. 73-51) This invention relates vto Arubber inner tube testing means for testing such inner tubes forA vthe purpose of `detecting imperfections.

It is customaryto inflate the tube to be tested vand toimmerse it in water, whereupon air bubv cause injury to the tube results'when the unprofro tected tube is allowed to stretch, under increased pressure, .to dimensions -greater than its size when encased in a conventional outer casing."

The relatively low air pressure heretofore used for testing purposes is sufficient to disclose some punctures, and particularly those which extend through the tube wall, but frequently the smaller and incomplete punctures or porous condition of the tube wall are not disclosed by the conventional testing means.

The object of my invention is to provide means for reinforcing the tube to be tested to permit inflation of the tube under radically increased air pressure, say eight to ten pounds pressure,

without stretching the tube injuriously, whereby y all the imperfections of the tube may be detected by immersing the inflated tube and reinforcing means in water.

The said reinforcing means may be constructed in Various ways, it being essential that stretching of the tube be limited by the reinforcing means while visibility ofthe tube is maintained and the outward passage of air through punctures is not prevented by said reinforcing means.`

Preferably, the reinforcing means is made vin the form of a strip which is of such width and length that it can be wrapped in overlapped relation around a lightly inflated tube, to overlie the entire surface not only when the tube is lightly inflated but also when the air pressure and the tube dimensions are increased. The material of which the strip is made may vary, also, it being practical to use any flexible mesh or apertured material having tensile strength sufficient to withstand the tension resulting from expansion of the tube under pressure. y

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view of part of one form of tube reinforcing means, embodying my invention, for use in inner tube testing.

Fig. 2 shows part of an inner tube, inflated with air under low pressure, with the reinforcing means of Fig. 1 wrapped about the tube.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 4 shows the tube and wrapping vof Fig. 2

. may be tucked in under another part of thestrip increased pressure causes the cord I3 of one after the air pressure in the tube has been substantially increased.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectionalview taken 'on the line 5--5 of Fig. il.

, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 4, 5 showing part of an inflated tube and a modified form of reinforcing-means. v f

ln that embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, the tube reinforcing means consists of a strip, approximately-live inches in width 10 and long enough to Ebe wrapped around an linner Itube in-overlapped relation, 'thestrip being made of flexible cord I knotted as indicated at II to form a mesh having openings I2 approximately three-quarters of an inch square. One of the longitudinal edges of the mesh strip is tied to a relatively thick cord I3 and the opposite edge is similarly tied to a relatively thick cord I4, by means of a smaller cord I5, knotted at spaced points as indicatedat Iii. The strip thus con-- structed is flexible and is adapted to be wrapped about an inner` tube Il which has been inflated with air under low pressure, as indicated in Fig. l

y2, in partially overlapped relation, so that the shown in Fig. 3.

'I'he width of the strip may be varied and, if desired, a center cord or tape l'may be provided, midway between the cords I3 and I4, as shown in the modified form in Fig. 6. n

After the strip has been wrapped around the tube Il, the freeY endl of the strip may be secured to an underlying turn of the wrapping or it without special fastening means,` for the strip will be placed under tension and remain securely in place when theairpressure is increased, as heretofore explained, from six or seven ounces to seven or more pounds. 'Ihe increased pressure causes the tube il to stretch slightly between the cords i3 and I4, or I3, I8 and I4, las indicated in Figs. 4 and 6, but the reinforcing means limits the stretching and prevents injury to the tube, while the passage of air outwardly under the increased pressure reveals all the tube imperfections when the tube is placed in water.

The limited expansion of the tube I'l under turn of the strip and the cord I4 of the underlying turn of thestrip to move toward each other, as indicated in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5, and when they reach contacting positions, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, at the outer or peripheral portion of the tube, the tension on the cords in a direc- 55 vtion radially of the tube is such that they remain relatively long and narrow strip of deformable meshlike material having free, unconnected ends and relatively inexible thickened longitudinaledges, said strip being adapted to be Wrapped around a tube spirally, each turn of the strip being in partially overlying relation to an adjacent turn when the strip has been Wrapped around the tube, and theinner sides of said thickened edges of adjacent turnsengaging each other on the tube when the pressure in the tube is increased.

2. An inner tube testingdevice comprising a strip of deformable meshlike material having free, unconnected ends and substantially straight side edges, said strip being of such length as to be Wrapped spirally completely around an inner tube when partially inflated, and of such Width asto have its sides extending in overlapping relation to an adjacent turn upon the tube, Whereby upon increased inflation of the Wrapped tube the extent of spiral overlapping of the strip sides will be'diminished with increased frictional engagernentbetween thetube and Wrapping without separation thereof.. n

3. An inner tubey testing device comprising a strip of deformable meshlike material having free, unconnected ends and substantially straight side edges, said strip being of lsuch length as to be Wrapped spirally completely around an inner tube when partially inflated, and of such Width as to have its sides extending in overlapping relation to anradjlacent turn Iupon the tube, and interengavging-xnelansat the side .`edges of said strip adapted tov prevent lateral'sepafration of superimposed strip yportions during increased inflation for testing of said tube. v

4. An inner tube testing device comprising a strip of deformable meshlike material having free, unconnected ends and substantially straight, thickened side edges, said strip being long enough to be Wrapped spirally around and to covery completely an inner tube when partially inflated,

vsaid strip: beingof .such ,-Widthas to be in partially overlying relation-yto an adjacent .turn when the vstrip has beenvvrapped around apartially inlatedtube,l whereby increased inflation of the Wrappedtube Will-,result in diminishing ythe each other at the outer circumferential portion Vof the tube and 'prevent uncovering of any por- 25 Aextent lof ,overlappingig and cause `the thickened .Y

y edges of` adjacent turns of the strip to engage 

